Container corner construction



ed to 1,363,436 12/1920 Richardson.................. 2,355,578 8/1944 Williams et al 3,114,493 12/1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 603,989 6/1948 Great Britain................ 867,053 5/1961 Great Britain... 640,355 5/1962 Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant Examiner-James R. Garrett AnrneyDiller, Brown, Ramik & Holt ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to a container of the type 229/52 which includes upstanding pairs of end and sidewalls join 6 a bottom wall, the sidewalls including connecting walls, and

uppermost edge portions of the end and connecting walls in- 34Hw, 35 eluding interlocking means for maintaining the container in its I erected condition. The interlocking means in accordance with this disclosure are projections and slots formed in at least one of the connecting walls which respectively project 229/34 into and receive an opening in afoldable panel of an associated 229/34 end wall.

O United States Patent lnventor Thaddeus H. Pisarczuk 0akLawn,lll.

[22] Filed Sept. 13,1968 Patented Dec. 15,1970

Continental Can Company, Inc. New York, N.Y. a corporation of New York [54] CONTAINER CORNER CONSTRUCTION 11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[51] FieldofSearch.......

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 514,683 2/1894 Patrick......................... 882,688 3/1908 Janicke.....

[21] Appl. No. 759,629

[73] Assignee CONTAINER CORNER CONSTRUCTION A primary object of this invention is to provide a novel container blank of the type including at least an adjacent end and sidewall joined to a bottom wall along respective first and second generally normally disposed fold lines, and a connecting wall joined to the sidewall along a third fold line disposed generally normal to the second fold line, the improvement in accordance with this invention comprising first and second means carried by the connecting wall and the end wall for interlocking securing the same together in side-by-side relationship normal to the bottom wall. A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carrier blank of the type heretofore described wherein the first and second means is a tab carried by a terminal edge of one of the connecting and end walls and the other of the first and second means is a relieved area carried by a terminal edge invention the other of the connecting and end walls in which the tab is interlocking received.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel container blank of the type heretofore described wherein the first and second means includes a slot opening outwardly through a terminal edge of one of the connecting and end walls, and the other of the connecting and end walls includes a panel folded into the slot for interlocking engagement therewith.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel container corner construction formed from a blank of the type heretofore described wherein theconnecting panel preferably includes both a projecting tab and an adjacent slot at an uppermost terminal edge thereof, and the adjacent end wall includes an opening for receiving the connecting wall projection and a panel received in a slot of the connecting wall.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed the blank matter, and the several view illustrated in the accompanying drawings. I

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a container blan'k'constructed in accordance with this invention,- and illustrates interlocking means carried by end walls and transversely adjacent connecting walls of the blank for interlockableengagement to maintain the blank in its erected condition.

FIG. 2 is atop perspective view of a partially formed container being set up from the blank of FIG. I; and illustrates the manner in which connectingwalls are positioned in side-byside relationship after which an associated end wall is swung upwardly into interlocking engagement therewith.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the completely setup container, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which each of a pair of end walls is interlockingly secured to a pair of connecting walls.

FIG. 4 is a enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 44 of FIG. 3, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which a terminal edge of the right-handmost end wall is overfolded to form an opening into which projections of the connecting walls are received, as well as a plurality of panels folded into upwardly opening slots of the connecting walls.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 3, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which the terminal edge portion of the right-handmost end wall of FIGS. 3 and 4 is overfolded inwardly and downwardly toward the bottom wall to its interlocked position.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 66 of FIG. 4, and more clearly illustrates the manner in which one of the panels of the end wall terminal portion is overfolded into upwardly opening slots of the connecting panels, and the formation of a finger-receiving recess in an innermost one of the connecting panels.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 4, and illustrates another overfolded panel of the end wall received in a slot of an innermost one of the connecting walls.

A novel container constructed in accordance with this invention is fully illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 5 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The container 10 'is preferably constructed from corrugated paperboard or similar paper stock material by appropriately setting up a container blank which is fully illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings to which attention is now directed. v

The container blank 15 includes a bottom wall or panel 11, a portion of which is broken away for clarity to illustrate the construction of the blank 15 from corrugated paperboard. The bottom wall 11 is of a rectangular configuration, and is setoff by a pair of longitudinal fold lines 12, 13 and transverse fold lines 14, 16.

A side panel or wall 17 is joined to the bottom wall 11 along the fold line 12-and is setoff by the fold line 12, a pair of transverse fold lines 18, 20 and a longitudinal edge 21.

Another sidewall or panel 22 is likewise connected to the bottom wall 11 by fold line 13, and is defined by the fold line 13, a pair of transverse fold lines 23, 24 and a longitudinal edge 25.

An intermediate connecting wall or panel 26 is joined to the sidewall l7-along the fold line 20, is setoff by the fold line 20, a longitudinal cut line 27, a transverse edge 28 and a undulating longitudinal edge 30. The edge30 defines the uppermost limit of a terminal edge portion 31 of the connecting panel 27. Due to the undulatingconfiguration of the edge 30 the terminal edge portion 31 therefore includes a generally rectangular slot 32, a projecting tab 33, another slot34 and another tab '35. The slot 32 and the tabs 33, 35 function to define means. for interlockingly securing the container 10 in'the condition illustrated in FIG. 3 in a manner to be described hereinafter. The

connecting panel 26 further includes a pair of spaced parallel cut lines 36, 37 which terminate at a fold line 38 and therewith define a panel 40 which additionally includes a pair of spaced parallel fold lines 41, 42. The panel 40 is foldable about the fold lines 38,41 and 42 to form a finger-receiving recess for manually carrying the container 10 in a manner to be described fully hereinafter.v

Another inner connecting wall or panel 43 is connected to the sidewall 22 along the fold line 23, and is setoff by the fold line 23, a cut line 44, a transverse edge 45, and an undulating edge 46 which defines the limits of a terminal edge portion-47 of the connecting panel 43. The undulating configuration of the edge 46 set off an outwardly opening slot 48, an outwardly projecting tab 50, another slot 51, and another outwardly projecting tab 52. The slot 48 and the tabs 50, 52 similarly function to serve as means for 'interlockingly securing the container 10 in its setup condition, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The inner connecting panel 43 further includes a pair of spaced parallel cut fiat-headed 53, 54 terminating at a fold line 55 and defining therewith a panel 56 which additionally includes a pair of parallel fold lines 57, 58. The panel 56 is foldable to form a finger-receiving recess for carrying the carton 10in a manner which will appear fully hereinafter.

An outer connecting wall or panel 60 is joined to the sidewall 17 along the fold line 18 and is setoff by the fold line 18, a out line 61, a transverse edge 62 and an undulating edge 63 which defines the uppermost limit of a terminal end portion 64. The undulating edge 63 of the end portion 64 set off a pair of projections 65, 66 and a pair of slots 67, 68 which collectively define means for interlockingly securing the wall 60 in the erected condition of the container 10, as will be described more fully hereinafter. The panel 60 additionally includes a hand-receiving opening 70.

Another connecting wall or panel 73 isjoined to ,the sidewall 22 by the fold line 24, and is set off by the fold line 24, a out line 74, a transverse edge 75 and an undulating edge 76 which defines the outermost limit of a terminal end portion 77 of the wall 73. The undulating configuration of the edge 76 set offa pair of projections 78, 80 and a pair of outwardly opening slots 81, 82 which collectively function as means for interlockingly securing the wall 73 in the setup condition of the container 10. The panel 73 additionally includes a handreceiving opening 83.

An end wall or panel 86 is joined to the bottom wall 11 along the fold line 16, and is set off by the fold line 16, the cut lines 27, 74, and a transverse edge 87. The end wall 86 includes a terminal edge portion 88 provided with three pairs of spaced parallel fold lines 90, 91 and 92 between which are respective panels 93. 94 and 95. The pair of fold lines 90 terminate at the cut The pair 27 and a cut line 96 while the pair of fold lines 92 terminate at the cut line 74 and a cut line 97. The pair of fold lines 91 are likewise bridged at opposite ends thereof by a pair of cut lines 98, 100. A cut line 101 extends between the cut lines 96, 98 while another cut line 102 extends between the cut lines 97, 100. The elements 90 through 102 of the end wall 86 collectively define means for interlocking with the tabs 33, 34, 78 80 and slots 32, 81, 82 for maintaining the container in its setup condition, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The panel 86 additionally includes a hand-receiving opening 104.

The blank further includes another end wall or panel 106 joined to the bottom wall 11 along the fold line 14. The end wall 106 is set off by the fold line 14, the cut lines 44, 61 and a transverse edge 107 which defines the uppermost portion of a terminal portion 108 of the end wall 106. The edge portion 108 is likewise provided with pairs of spaced parallel fold lines 110, 111 and 112 between which is defined respective panels 1 13, 114 and 115. The pair of fold lines 110 are bridged at one end thereof by a portion of the cut line 61 and at opposite ends thereof by a cut line 116. The pair of fold lines 112 are likewise bridged by a portion of the cut line 44 and at opposite ends by a cut line 117. Terminal ends of the pair of fold lines 111 are also bridged by cut lines 118, 120. A out line 121 extends between the cut lines 116, 118 while a cut line 122 likewise extends between the cut lines 117, 120. The elements 110 through 122 illustrated in FIG. 1 function to interlock with the projections 50, 52, 65 and 66, and the slots 48, 51, 67, and 68 as will be made apparent immediately hereinafter. The end wall 106 additionally includes a hand-receiving opening 123.

The blank 15 is setup to form the container 10 by folding the sidewalls 17, 22 upwardly and normal to the bottom wall 11 about the respective fold lines 12, 13 (FIG. 2). The connecting walls 26, 43 are then folded normal to the respective sidewalls 17, 22 about the respective fold lines 20, 23. Thereafter the connecting walls 60, 73 are folded about the respective fold lines 18, 24 to bring the panels 60, 73 in sideby-side abutting relationship to the respective connecting panels 43, 26, as is clearly illustrated in H6. 2. In this position the tabs 52, 65 of the respective connecting walls 43, 60 partially overlie the tabs 66, 50 of the respective connecting walls 60. 43. The slots 51, 67 of the connecting walls 43, 60, respectively. are also in alignment.

At the opposite end of the container Ill the tabs 80, 35 likewise partially overlie the tabs 33, 78, respectively, and the slots 34. 81 are in alignment.

The end walls 86, 106 are then folded upwardly about the respective fold lines 16, 14, in the manner diagrammatically illustrated by the unnumbered headed arrow in H0. 2. When the end walls 86, 106 are in upright position the terminal edge portions 88, 108 thereof are folded inwardly and downwardly to the position shown in H6. 3. During this folding of the terminal edge portions the cut lines 121, 122 spread to form an opening (unnumbered) into which projects the tabs 52, 66 and 50, 65. respectively. The same folding of the terminal end portion 108 brings the panels 113, 114 and 115 into overlying relationship to the slots 68, 51 and 67, and 48, respectively. The end wall 106 is thereby interlockingly secured to both of the connecting walls 43, 60 and an identical folding of the terminal edge portion 88 likewise results in a corresponding interlocking engagement between the tabs. slots. panels and spread cut lines to interlockingly secure together the end wall 86 and the connecting walls 26, 73.

When it is desired to carry the container 10 the respective panels 40, 57 are manually forced inwardly to the position illustrated by the panel 40 in FIG. 6, it being noted that in this position the edge 34 of the panel 40 has slid downwardly from its normal position immediately adjacent and underlying the panel 94. The container may now be manually carried during which time the secured interlocking of the connecting and end walls heretofore noted assures the integrity of the container 10 during storage and/or shipment.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

lclaim:

1. An improvement in a container blank of the type including at least adjacent bottom end and side panels and connecting panels hingedly secured to the ends of said side panels, means for interconnecting said end and connecting panels in side-by-side lapping relationship normal to said bottom panel in the erected condition of said blank, one of said end and connecting panels having a hand-receiving opening, and the other of said end and connecting panels at the same end of the container blank having means for closing said hand-receiving opening but distortable for defining a chamber for the reception of one s fingers to pass through said hand-receiving open ing.

2. The container blank as defined in claim 1 wherein said other panel includes a top edge, and said closing means includes a pair of spaced weakening lines perpendicular to said edge and defining a panel adapted to be moved out of the plane of said other panel to form said chamber.

3. The container blank as defined in claim 2 wherein said weakening lines are a pair of score lines.

4. The container blank as defined in claim 2 wherein said weakening lines are a pair of score lines, and said pair of score lines are joined by a fold line substantially perpendicular thereto.

5. The container blank as definedin claim 4 including at least another fold line parallel to said first-mentioned fold line to define at least two panels foldable relative to each other to define said chamber.

6. The container blank as defined in claim 5 including at least another fold line between said pair of score lines to define three panels cooperative to form said chamber.

7. The container blank as defined in claim 2 wherein said interconnecting means is carried by a panel having a handreceiving opening, and said hand-receiving openings have longitudinal axes disposed generally perpendicular to each other, and means for bringing said axes in parallel relationship in the erected condition of said blank.

8. The container blank as defined in claim 3 wherein said interconnecting means is carried by a panel having a handreceiving opening, and said hand-receiving openings have longitudinal axes disposed generally perpendicular to each other, and means for axes in parallel relationship in the erected condition of said blank.

9. The container blank as defined in claim 4 wherein said interconnecting means is carried by a panel having a handreceiving opening, and said hand-receiving openings have longitudinal axes disposed generally perpendicular to each other, and means for bringing said ax e axes in parallel relationship in the erected condition of said blank.

10. The container blank as defined in claim 5 wherein said interconnecting means is carried by a panel having a handreceiving opening, and said hand-receiving openings have longitudinal axes disposed generally perpendicular to each other, and means for bringing said axes in parallel relationship in the erected condition of said blank.

11. The container blank as defined in claim 6 wherein said interconnecting means is carried by a panel having a handreceiving opening, and said fiat-headed openings have longitudinal axes in parallel relationship disposed generally perpendicular to each other, and means for bringing said axes in .parallel relationship in the erected condition of said blank. 

